Assistant Professor in Early Modern History (2425_HIS_01)

We are looking for a scholar of exceptional ability to join our internationally renowned Department of History as Assistant Professor in Early Modern History. The Department seeks to appoint a historian working on any aspect of the early modern world, excluding the Anglophone world. We particularly welcome applications from historians working on comparative and/or connected histories, and who have expertise relating to any or all of the following themes: Social Justice, Communities and Policy; Science and Humanities; and Culture, Creativity and Heritage. These themes are pivotal to the Department’s research, funding and education agenda and reflect themes that the Faculty of Arts and Humanities has identified as strategically important in responding to urgent global challenges. They are also themes with real resonance in the early modern period, and we look forward to hearing how applicants make these connections in their own work.

The Department of History is widely recognized as a leading centre of historical research and teaching, consistently ranked among the top history departments in the UK and internationally (4th in the UK according to the Complete Universities Guide for 2025, 42nd in the world according to the QS World University Rankings for 2024.) The Department has particular strengths in medieval and early modern social, cultural, and political history, as well as in global history, modern history, and a wide range of thematic areas reflected in its dynamic research clusters.

The Department has a world-leading reputation in early modern history. The successful candidate will work alongside early modernist colleagues with expertise in British (Prof. Natalie Mears, Prof Stephen Taylor, Dr Alex Barber, Dr Barbara Crosbie), European (Dr Tom Hamilton, Dr Julie Marfany, Dr Toby Osborne), Transatlantic (Dr Adrian Green, Dr Amanda Herbert), South Asian (Dr Christopher Bahl) and East Asian (Dr Sare Aricanli and Dr John Lee) History. Colleagues in this period work across a range of methodologies and themes.

Academic colleagues are supported to publish excellent research in their area of interest with a focus on high quality outputs (including monographs and journal articles), rather than quantity. We aim to support your research needs, including practical help such as resources to attend conferences and to fund research activities, as well as a generous research leave policy and a designated mentor. Durham University is also committed to ensuring outstanding teaching quality, stimulating learning environments, and innovative curricula for all our students. You will be supported to develop your teaching expertise and skills.

We welcome and encourage applications from those who are currently under-represented in our work force, including people with disabilities and from racially minoritised ethnic groups.

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